finally rid of the autoshift. thank god

Discussion in 'Questions From New Drivers' started by ad356, Feb 14, 2020.

  1. loudtom

    loudtom Road Train Member

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    Some companies lock out manual mode so you can't use it.
     
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  3. seagreg

    seagreg Light Load Member

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    Every compression stroke of a piston in a diesel increases the inlet air temperature to 1000° F no matter if there is fuel or not.

    Even ignoring the turbo at 600 RPM with an x15 this means you are heating ~500 cubic feet (~14,158 liters) of air a minute and at 1500 rpm you are heating about ~1200 cubic feet (33,980 liters) of air a minute.

    The math to figure out how much more energy it takes is fairly complicated but you can probably find a Psychrometric Chart which would allow for it.

    Using standard conditions and inaccurate back of the envelope math this would take around 20,900 BTU at 600 RPM vs 50,160 BTU at 1500 RPM.

    This is ignoring many other losses like friction etc...

    The neutral-gear coasting on slight downhill grades where you don't need engine braking so you wouldn't have the opportunity to cut off fuel on a manual transmission so they both will have some fuel usage.

    Note that this feature is claimed to save about 1% or 200 gallons if you use 20,000 per year. Not a lot for an O/O but if you are a mega like CR England 200 gallons per truck is 700,000 gallons a year.

    FYI: I still prefer a manual.
     
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  4. ad356

    ad356 Road Train Member

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    a guy from eaton came and did some shift point adjustments on the autoshifts we have..... he accidently locked out manual mode, drivers had a fit and were calling my boss blowing a head gasket. apparently it was done by mistake, needless to say the guy had to come back and change that on all of the trucks. I found manual mode does NOT respond the same way an actual manual transmission does. all I know is, I got 84 back and couldn't be happier to be done with flappy paddle shifter. I couldn't be happier having my own truck back.

    I don't like autoshifts, but if I can even have manual mode to correct the dummy computer and its bad shift points I would probably quit pretty fast. I think the entire industry could just skip the B.S. autoshift and learn how to shift again. a manual transmission makes the driver a better driver, forces you to be more attentive to driving. you cant be eating pizza, messing with your phone or doing a host of other things because now you have a free hand.
     
  5. Farmerbob1

    Farmerbob1 Road Train Member

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    Eh, driver inattention is no worse for most of us with autos or manual shifts. You do a lot of country driving and small roads, I can see that being a bit more involved and conceivably allowing for distraction that otherwise might not happen, but for most of us, when we hit top gear, there's no real 'distraction' difference between an auto and manual until we hit a significant grade.
     
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  6. Wasted Thyme

    Wasted Thyme Road Train Member

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    Yeah I agree. While I will insist on being tested and mentored on a manual. I will prefer the autoshift. I drive an automatic 4 wheeler now. But I still don't do any of that dumb stuff like texting, or eating while driving...etc. Might vape, change the radio station, or take a drink of my non-adult beverage. But that is the extent of my non-driving activities while driving.
    I think it is more of the person having the common sense to be a Truck Driver, and not a steering wheel holder. So autoshift or manual, I'll be sure to be the former and not the later. It's just the right thing to do. IMO
     
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  7. Linte_Loco

    Linte_Loco Road Train Member

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    Less than 2 months and I’m ditching my auto. 1 year will be enough.
     
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